Poland is a country if immense beauty, beautiful warm and caring people and a national cuisine which ranks as one of the world's best. It is also the home of Babka, a dessert which to me, exemplifies the tastes and joys of the holiday season.
There are probably as many Babka recipes in Poland as their are various types of sausages. When I was there for One World - One Table, I think I ate Babka at least twice a day. It is a pastry which makes you smile, much like the people of this incredible country.
I have had Babka made in the form of a bundt cake, a stollen and a bread. I have had it made from whole grain flours, potato dough and yeast dough. I've had it made with chocolate, with nuts and with fruit (and even a few combinations of all the aformentioned). To pick one particular Babka recipe is not easy, so I opted for the one I usually bake at home for the holidays. It's fun, it's tasty and it's pretty damn easy!
From the kitchen of Casa de Cuisine to your holiday kitchen, I wish you a joyful holiday season!
Ingredients needed to make Polish Babka (makes 1 cake):
- ¼ cup warm water
- 2 ½ tsp. yeast
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3 egg yolks, beaten
- ½ cup raisins
- 2 Tbs. grated lemon zest
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup whipping cream
- 1 Tbs. ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped almonds
Steps:
-
In a small bowl whisk together the water, yeast and 1 tsp. sugar. Set aside 5 minutes to proof (foam).
- In a large bowl whisk the butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Whisk in the salt and egg yolks.
- Into the bowl stir in the proofed yeast, raisins and zest. Stir in the flour and whipping cream until a stiff batter forms. Cover the bowl and let rise 1 hour.
- Pre-heat oven to 350. Line the bottom of an 11-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the cinnamon and almonds.
- Place in oven and bake 35 minutes or until a tester come out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool until slicing and serving.
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